Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, which comprises: a main body having a storage compartment therein; and a door connected to the main body and opening/closing the storage compartment, wherein the door includes: an outer case defining an external appearance of the door; a door liner combined with the outer case; an insulation material filled between the outer case and the door liner; and a holder supporting both a receptacle connected with a cable for controlling an ice maker and a water supply cock for making ice, the holder disposed between the outer case and the door liner, wherein the holder is fixed to the outer case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0129259 (Dec. 22,2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment relates to a refrigerator.

Generally, a refrigerator is home appliances that stores food in a lowtemperature state by a low-temperature air.

Currently, there has been increasing a demand for a bottom freezer typerefrigerator whose refrigerating compartment is provided at an upperside and freezing compartment is provided at a lower side. In the caseof the bottom freezer type refrigerator, an ice making device that makesice and a water dispenser that can take out drinking water may beprovided at a door. When the door of a refrigerator is equipped with theice making device and the water dispenser, water supply hoses connectedto the ice making device and the water dispenser expand inside the door.

In detail, in the structure with the ice making device in the door, inaddition to the water supply hose, the door is equipped with built-incontrol unit and a driving motor for controlling the operation of theice maker and cables for, and cables for transmitting electric currentand operational signals to the control unit and the driving motor. Inthis configuration, a holder is required to support the connectingterminal, such as a receptacle, formed at the end of the cable connectedto the ice maker, and keep their positions while filling the door withan insulator.

In the related art, the holder was simply attached to the rear side ofthe outer case forming the front external appearance of the door, by abonding member. Therefore, there was a problem that the position of theholder changed on the outer case in manufacturing the door, particularlyfilling the insulator.

Further, it has been tried to, not filling polyurethane foam, butinstalling a specific insulator, such as vacuum insulation panel, in thedoor, in order to achieve a slim door that is equipped with an icemaking compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the above technical requirements andit is an object to provide a refrigerator that has a slim door equippedwith an ice making compartment and a holder stably fixed to the insideof the door.

In order to achieve the objects of the present invention, a refrigeratoraccording to an aspect of the present invention comprises: a main bodyhaving a storage compartment therein; and a door connected to the mainbody and opening/closing the storage compartment, wherein the doorincludes: an outer case defining an external appearance of the door; adoor liner combined with the outer case; an insulation material filledbetween the outer case and the door liner; and a holder supporting botha receptacle connected with a cable for controlling an ice maker and awater supply cock for making ice, the holder disposed between the outercase and the door liner, wherein the holder is fixed to the outer case.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigeratorcomprises: a main body; a door including an outer case and a door linercombined with the outer case, the door rotatably connected to the mainbody; an ice making compartment provided to the door liner andaccommodating an ice maker; a water supply cock supplying water to theice maker; a receptacle connected to an end of a cable for transmittingelectric current and/or operational signal to the ice maker; a holdersupporting both the water supply cock and the receptacle between thedoor liner and the outer case; and a insulation plate interposed betweenthe outer case and the holder.

According to a refrigerator having the above configuration of anembodiment of the present invention, it is possible not to fillpolyurethane foam, but to mount a specific insulation panel inside adoor.

Further, it is possible to stably fix a holder supporting the end of awater supply hose and the end of a cable for operating and controllingan ice maker, in side the door, even if a specific insulation panel ismounted.

Further, it is possible to improve productivity by simplifying theassembly process, as compared with the related art in which a receptacleconnected to the end of the cable should be fixed to the holder by aspecific bracket and the holder should be bonded to the rear of the doorof the refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exterior perspective view of a refrigerator according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door of the refrigeratingcompartment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the front of a holder according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom of an upper panelattached to the upper side of the door of a refrigerating compartmentaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connection between theholder and the upper panel, taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connection between aholder and an upper panel according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the structure of a refrigerator according to embodiments ofthe present invention will be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exterior perspective view of a refrigerator according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 10 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention includes a main body 11 that includes arefrigerating compartment 111 and a freezing compartment therein, arefrigerating compartment door 12 opening/closing the refrigeratingcompartment 111 and a freezing compartment door 13 opening/closing thefreezing compartment, which are rotatably connected to the front edge ofthe main body 11.

In detail, the freezing compartment may be formed as a single spaceunder the refrigerating compartment 111 and may be divided into aplurality of spaces by specific partitions for products.

Though not shown, a storage box capable of being drawn forward may beprovided in the freezing compartment. A drawer is further provided inthe freezing compartment and includes a door selectively blocking thefront opening of the freezing compartment, a door frame extendingbackward from the rear of the door, and a rail connected to the storagebox seated on the door frame and the door frame for the door to slideforward/backward.

Further, the freezing compartment may be divided into a plurality ofspaces in the up-down direction or the left-right direction by specificpartitions. The figures show when the freezing compartment is divided inthe up-down direction and each space is blocked by the door 13. Further,any one of the spaces divided by the partitions in the freezingcompartment may be used as a convertible compartment. Accordingly, thedoor 13 opening/closing the freezing compartment 13 may have aconvertible compartment door and a freezing compartment door.

A plurality of shelves and baskets may be provided in the refrigeratingcompartment. The front opening of the refrigerating compartment 111, asshown in the figure, can be opened/closed by a pair of refrigeratingdoors 12. The pair of refrigerating doors 12 can be rotatably connectedto the left and right edges of the main body 11.

Further, an ice making compartment 20 for making ice may be provided onthe rear of the refrigerating compartment door 12 and one or more doorbaskets 15 may be attached to the outer surface of the ice makingcompartment 20. A cooling air inlet 123 and a cooling air outlet 124 maybe formed in the side of the ice making compartment 20, that is, theside contacting with the inside of the refrigerating compartment 111.Further, a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet are at the side ofthe refrigerating compartment 111 where the cooling air inlet 123 andthe cooling air outlet 124 are in contact when the refrigeratingcompartment door 12 is closed. Furthermore, a cooling air supply ductand a cooling air return duct which are connected with an evaporationcompartment (not shown) may be formed in the side of the refrigeratingcompartment 111.

Further, one or more door baskets 16 may be provided to the rear of therefrigerating door 12, corresponding to the bottom of the ice makingcompartment 20. A water storage unit 30 having a predetermined size maybe provided on the rear of the lower end portion of the refrigeratingcompartment door 12.

Meanwhile, a dispenser (not shown) may be formed on the front of therefrigerating compartment door 12, in particular, the front of therefrigerating compartment door 12 where the ice making compartment 20 isformed, in order to take out drinking water and ice. Further, a watersupply hose (41 in FIG. 2) extends from the rear of the main body 11into the refrigerating compartment door 12 through a hinge connectingthe refrigerating compartment door 12 with the main body 11.Furthermore, the water supply hose 41 extending into the refrigeratingcompartment door 12 branches off to an ice maker (not shown) provided inthe ice making compartment 20 and a water-taking opening of thedispenser, across the water storage unit 30.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerating compartmentdoor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the refrigerating compartment door 12 according toan embodiment of the present invention includes an outer case formed ofa metal plate to form the front external appearance, a door liner 122attached to the rear of the outer case 121, and a polyurethane foaminsulator (not shown) filled between the outer case 121 and the doorliner 122.

In detail, a filler 16 may be attached to the side of the door liner122, in detail, the side corresponding to the surfaces facing each otherwhen the pair of refrigerating compartment doors are closed. The filler16 is in closed contact with a side of the door liner 122 when therefrigerating compartment door 12 is open, as shown in the figures. Onthe contrary, when the refrigerating compartment door 12 is closed, thefiller rotates at 90° to block the interface with the refrigeratingcompartment door such that the cooling air is prevented from leakingthrough the interface between the refrigerating compartment doors.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the water storage unit 30 is positionedunder the door liner 122, and a tank housing 123 accommodating a watertank (not shown) and a valve (not shown) is formed under the door liner122.

In detail, the outer case 121 is formed of a metal plate and has aplastic upper panel 126 on the upper end. A hinge is fastened to theupper edge of the outer case 121 and the inside of the hinge is empty.The water supply hose 41 extends along the rear of the outer case 12through the hinge, as shown in the figure. The end of the water supplyhose 41 is connected to the water tank (not shown) in the tank housing,through the tank housing 123 of the door liner 122, at the lower end ofthe outer case 121. In the figure, the region A is where the tankhousing 123 of the door liner 122 is disposed. An ice maker hose 44 anda dispenser hose 43 that extend from the outlet of a diverging valve(not shown) disposed in the tank housing 123 extend upward along therear of the outer case 121. The end of the hose connected to the wateroutlet of the water tank is connected to the inlet of the divergingvalve.

Meanwhile, a holder 50 supporting a receptacle R connected to asubstrate for controlling the ice maker and a water supply cock 441through which water is supplied to the ice maker are disposed at theupper portion of the rear of the outer case 121. Further, the holder 50is fixed to the upper panel 126 a specific insulation panel 80, such asa vacuum insulation panel, may be attached to the rear of the outer case121 corresponding to the front of the ice making compartment 20. Indetail, the vacuum insulation panel is formed by combining a pluralityof thin metal plate with a vacuum space therein. The vacuum space ismaintained in a substantially vacuum state, under 0.0001 atmosphericpressure. An absorbent, such as silica gel, may be provided in thevacuum space to remove moisture that may be created in the vacuum spaceby changes in temperature etc. Unlikely, the vacuum insulation panel mayinclude a core formed by pressing glass fiber and a seal cover coveringthe core. Structures known in the art can be used for the vacuuminsulation panel and the detailed description is not provided. Thevacuum insulation panel has a larger insulation performance per unitthickness than the insulation foam. Therefore, it is possible to achievethe same insulation performance as the insulation foam, even if using avacuum insulation panel thinner than the insulation foam. Since a vacuuminsulation panel 80 is provided for the refrigerating compartment doorof the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention,the thickness of the refrigerating compartment door 12 can be reduced.

Further, the insulation panel 80 is interposed between the outer case121 and the holder 50. A dispenser housing 70 depressed to accommodate avessel for taking out drinking water and ice may be attached to the rearof the outer case 121. An ice suit 71 that guides ice made in the icemaking compartment 20 to be discharged outside the refrigeratingcompartment door 12 may be mounted on the upper end of the dispenserhousing 70. A water cock for taking out water is formed at the front ofthe ice suit 71.

In the refrigerator having the above structure, the dispenser hose 43extends upward to the water cock and the ice maker hose 44 extendsfurther upward than the dispenser hose 43 to the water supply cock 441.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the front of the holder accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the holder 50 may be formed by injection-moldingplastic and has a PCB seat 511 where a control substrate controlling theoperation of the ice maker, a holder body 51 provided with a watersupply cock guide covering the upper surface of the water supply cock441 to protect it, and a fastening arm 52 extending from the uppersurface of the holder body 51.

In detail, a receptacle hole 512 is formed at the upper portion of thePCB seat 511 and a receptacle (not shown) connected to the end of agroup of a plurality of cables extending from a main control unit of themain body 11 of the refrigerator is inserted in the receptacle hole 512.The receptacle is connected with a connector extending from thesubstrate seated on the PCB seat 511. The water supply cock 441 that ismade of metal and rounded is connected to the end of the ice maker hose44, protruding forward from the backward of the holder 50. The watersupply cock guide 513 is rounded, taking the shape of the water supplycock 441. A heater is attached to the outer circumference of the watersupply cock 491 to prevent freezing inside the water supply cock 441.

On the other hand, a fastening hole 521 is formed through the uppersurface of the fastening arm 52 and at least one temporary connectingprotrusion 522 may be formed around the fastening hole 521. A fasteningmember that passes through the outer case 121 of the refrigeratingcompartment door 12 is inserted in the fastening hole 521. A preliminaryfastening protrusion of the outer case 121 is inserted in thepreliminary fastening hole 522 and this is described below withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom of an upper panelattached to the upper side of the door of a refrigerating compartmentaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

The upper panel 126, as described above, is mounted on the upper end ofthe outer case 121. In detail, fastening holes 126 a corresponding tothe number of fastening arms 52 may be formed in the upper panel 126.Further, at least one or more preliminary fastening protrusions 126 bprotrude from the bottom of the upper panel 126 spaced from thefastening holes 126 a.

By inserting the preliminary fastening protrusions 126 b in thepreliminary fastening holes 522, it is easy to arrange the fasteningholes 521 and 126 a in assembling the holder 50.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connection between theholder and the upper panel, taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, the fastening arm 52 of the holder 50 is in closecontact to the bottom of the upper panel 126. Accordingly, the fasteningholes 521 of the fastening arm 52 meet the fastening holes 126 a of theupper panel 126. Fastening members, such as screws, are sequentiallyinserted into the fastening holes 126 a and 152. The holder 50 is firmlyfixed to the upper panel 126 of the outer case 121 by the aboveassemblage. The holder 50 is fixed apart from the outer case 121. Theinsulation panel 80 is disposed in the space between the holder and theouter case. The insulation panel 80 can be firmly fixed to the rear ofthe outer case 121 by a bonding member. Further, as described above, theinsulation panel 80 may be formed to have a size corresponding to that fthe ice making compartment 20. By interposing the insulation panel 80,heat exchange between the ice making compartment 20 and the air outsidethe refrigerator is prevented, such that it is possible to prevent theinternal temperature of the ice making compartment 20 from increasing.Further, since a vacuum insulation panel 80 is used as the insulationpanel 80, it is possible to achieve heat insulation effect at least thesame as or more than when insulation foam is filled in the related art.Furthermore, since it is not necessary to fill the portion where theinsulation panel 80 is attached with specific insulation foam, thedistance from the front of the refrigerating compartment door 12 to therear of the ice making compartment, that the thickness of therefrigerating compartment door 12 around the ice making compartment isreduced.

After the insulation panel 80 is attached to the rear of the outer case121 and the holder 50 is fixed to the upper panel 126 from the backwardof the insulation panel 80, as described above, the door liner 122 iscombined. Further, insulation foam is filled in the space between thedoor liner 122 and the outer case 121. Since the holder 50 is fixed tothe upper panel 126, it is possible to prevent the holder 50 from beingmoved by injection speed of the insulation panel in filling theinsulation foam.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connection between aholder and an upper panel according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6, specific fasteners, such as screws, are notnecessary to fix the holder 50 to the upper panel 126.

In detail, fastening hooks 523, instead of the fastening holes, mayprotrude from the upper surface of the fastening arm 52 of the holder50. Further, the fastening hooks 523 may be injection-molded integrallywith the holder 50 to have a predetermined elastic force.

According to this configuration, the fastening hooks 523 pass throughthe fastening holes 126 a of the upper panel 126 by closely contactingthe fastening arm 52 of the holder 50 to the bottom of the upper panel126. Further, since the fastening hooks 523 have elasticity, theycontacts while passing through the fastening holes 126 a and then returnto the initial shape after completely passing through the fasteningholes 126 a. Therefore, it is possible to firmly fix the holder 50 tothe bottom of the upper panel 126.

1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage compartmenttherein; and a door connected to the main body and opening/closing thestorage compartment, wherein the door includes: an outer case definingan external appearance of the door; a door liner combined with the outercase; an insulation material filled between the outer case and the doorliner; and a holder supporting both a receptacle connected with a cablefor controlling an ice maker and a water supply cock for making ice, theholder disposed between the outer case and the door liner, wherein theholder is fixed to the outer case.
 2. The refrigerator according toclaim 1, further comprising an upper panel mounted on an upper endportion of the outer case, wherein the holder is fixed to the upperpanel.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising anice making compartment defined in the door liner, wherein the watersupply cock is exposed in the ice making compartment through the holderand the door liner.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, whereinthe holder includes: a holder body comprising: a hole where thereceptacle is inserted; and a guide covering the water supply cock; anda fastening arm extending from the holder body, wherein the fasteningarm is fixed to the upper panel.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim4, wherein the holder is fixed to the upper panel by inserting afastening member into the fastening arm through the upper panel.
 6. Therefrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the holder is fixed to theupper panel by inserting a fastening hook protruding from an upper endof the fastening arm into the fastening hole of the upper panel.
 7. Therefrigerator according to claim 4, wherein at least one preliminaryfastening protrusion protrudes from any one of the upper surface of thefastening arm and the upper panel, and a preliminary fastening holewhere the preliminary fastening protrusion is inserted is formed in theother one of the upper surface of the fastening arm and the upper panel.8. A refrigerator comprising: a main body; a door including an outercase and a door liner combined with the outer case., the door rotatablyconnected to the main body; an ice making compartment provided to thedoor liner and accommodating an ice maker; a water supply cock supplyingwater to the ice maker; a receptacle connected to an end of a cable fortransmitting electric current and/or operational signal to the icemaker; a holder supporting both the water supply cock and the receptaclebetween the door liner and the outer case; and a insulation plateinterposed between the outer case and the holder.
 9. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 8, wherein the insulation panel includes a vacuuminsulation panel.
 10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein theinsulation panel is disposed to a position corresponding to the icemaking compartment and has a size corresponding to the ice makingcompartment.
 11. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein theholder is fixed to the outer case at a predetermined distance from theinsulation panel.
 12. The refrigerator according to claim 8, furthercomprising a heater disposed around an outer circumference of the watersupply cock.
 13. The refrigerator according to claim 8, furthercomprising an insulation foam filled between the outer case and the doorliner.